The teenage years are great, aren’t they? writes clinical psychologist Jari Evertsz Just as we feel that we’ve got the hang of managing our primary school-aged kids with all their different sporting activities, their quirky food preferences and their love of sofa cuddle-time, along comes High...
NAPLAN is just one test, writes Sally Larsen, Senior Lecturer in Education Rawpixel/ Getty Images The latest round of NAPLAN results is out, along with a string of news reports about “students falling behind” and “failing”, and experts sounding the “alarm” about school progress. In March, all...
Researchers asked five experts if YouTube should be included – four out of five said no. Why? The Austalian government has confirmed video-sharing platform YouTube will be included in the upcoming social media ban for children aged 16 and under. Narong Khueankaew/Shutterstock In recent days, the platform –...
Researchers watched 150 episodes of Bluey, writes Bradley Smith. They found that it can teach kids about resilience for real life. She’s six years old, lives in Brisbane and might just be one of the best resilience coaches on television. We’re talking about Bluey, the animated Aussie pup...
Nicholas Procter looks at why financial stress is on the rise in Australia. Stories about interest rates and cost-of-living often focus on Australians’ hip pockets. But what about the impact on our mental health? The National Mental Health Commission’s most recent “report card” shows financial stress...
New research shows how domestic violence harms young people’s schooling, report Steven Roberts, Kate Fitz-Gibbon and Rebecca Stewart Every school around Australia is almost certain to have students who are victim-survivors of family and domestic violence. Taiki Ishikawa/ Unsplash, CC BY The 2023 Australian Child Maltreatment Study found...
Neurodevelopmental disorders are a diverse group of conditions that affect the brain from early development. writes Alison Poulton. They include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. These conditions usually become more evident over time. This is because delays in the skills...
Marlena Katene, a recent Year 12 student living with cerebral palsy, believes that every young person deserves more than just a plan — they deserve a dream. In this powerful first-person piece, she shares how a future shaped by inclusion, support and belief can change...
Introducing solid food is a key milestone for babies, usually around six months of age, writes WA paediatric dentist Dr Anna Buckeridge Solid Starts The texture of food typically progresses from purees to mashed, then minced and chopped foods by eight months, and finger foods by 12...
Here’s What You Need to Know: What is it? The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a government-funded program that provides up to $1,132 over two years for basic dental care. Who’s eligible? Children aged 0 to 17 in families receiving Family Tax Benefit A (or other eligible payments) are likely eligible. What’s included? ✅ Dental check-ups ✅ X-rays ✅ Cleaning ✅ Fissure...
